NATO is reportedly set to open a new expert and training center for what is said to be intelligence and counter-terrorism activities in Poland by the end of this year, amid heightened tensions between the Western military alliance and Russia.

Some 40 to 70 soldiers will be stationed at the facility, called the NATO Counter Intelligence Center of Excellence, in the southern Polish city of Krakow, the German weekly, Die Welt am Sonntag, reported on Sunday.

Poland and Slovakia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the NATO center in late September, according to which a total of 10 NATO member states will be involved in the installation.

Last month, NATO opened its command centers in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria. Alexander Grushko, Russia’s permanent representative to NATO, slammed the move, saying it will fuel an artificial atmosphere of confrontation with Moscow.

On Saturday, NATO launched its largest military drills in more than a decade. More than 36,000 troops and civilians are set to take part in the war games, involving 130 planes, 16 helicopters as well as 60 warships and submarines. The maneuvers will last until November 6.

Russia has repeatedly slammed NATO’s military buildup near its borders, saying such a move poses a threat to both regional and international peace.

The Moscow-West relations have been extremely tense in recent months over the crisis in Ukraine. The West accuses Moscow of supporting pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine; an allegation strongly rejected by the Kremlin.